Method and apparatus for controlling three-dimensional display device, and three-dimensional display device

ABSTRACT

A method and an apparatus for controlling a 3D display device, and the 3D display device are provided. The method includes within a first time period for outputting one frame, applying a first control signal to enable a left eye of a user to view a first view on the display panel at a first effect through the grating structure, and enable a right eye of the user to view a second view on the display panel at the first effect through the grating structure, and within a second time period for outputting one frame, applying a second control signal, to enable the left eye of the user to view the first view on the display panel at a second effect through the grating structure, and enable the right eye of the user to view the second view on the display panel at the second effect through the grating structure.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims a priority of the Chinese patentapplication No. 201510516134.3 filed on Aug. 20, 2015, which isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to the field of three-dimensional (3D)display technology, in particular to a method and an apparatus forcontrolling a 3D display device, and the 3D display device.

BACKGROUND

Along with progress of science and technology, 3D display technology hasbeen applied more and more widely in our lives. Glassless 3D technologycan provide a 3D display effect without any 3D glasses, so it has broadapplication prospects and has become a research emphasis for various 3Ddisplay manufacturers.

The conventional glassless 3D technology mainly includes three types,i.e., Parallax Barrier, Lenticular Lens and Directional Backlight. For aParallax Barrier 3D display device, it has relatively low pixels perinch (PPI), so the 3D display effect may be adversely affected.

SUMMARY

An object of the present disclosure is to provide a method and anapparatus for controlling a 3D display device, and the 3D displaydevice, so as to increase the PPI of the Parallax Barrier 3D displaydevice.

In one aspect, the present disclosure provides in some embodiments amethod for controlling a 3D display device, the 3D display deviceincluding a display panel for displaying a two-dimensional (2D) imageand a grating structure cooperating with the display panel to provide a3D display effect, the method including steps of: within a first timeperiod for outputting one frame, applying a first control signal toenable a left eye of a user to view a first view on the display panel ata first effect through the grating structure, and enable a right eye ofthe user to view a second view on the display panel at the first effectthrough the grating structure; and within a second time period foroutputting one frame, applying a second control signal, to enable theleft eye of the user to view the first view on the display panel at asecond effect through the grating structure, and enable the right eye ofthe user to view the second view on the display panel at the secondeffect through the grating structure.

In a possible embodiment of the present disclosure, in the step ofapplying the first control signal, the first control signal includes afirst signal applied to the display panel and a second signal applied tothe grating structure, and in the step of applying the second controlsignal, the second control signal includes a third signal different fromthe first signal and applied to the display panel and a fourth signalidentical to the second signal and applied to the grating structure.

In a possible embodiment of the present disclosure, the step of applyingthe first control signal to enable the left eye of the user to view thefirst view on the display panel at the first effect through the gratingstructure and enable the right eye of the user to view the second viewon the display panel at the first effect through the grating structureincludes: enabling a first group of gratings of the grating structure,which are spaced apart from each other, to be transparent portions,enabling a second group of gratings each arranged between the adjacentgratings in the first group to be nontransparent portions, enabling aplurality of first pixel units arranged on the display panel and spacedapart from each other to display the first view at the first effect, andenabling a plurality of second pixel units each arranged between theadjacent first pixel units on the display panel to display the secondview at the first effect. The step of applying the second output signalto enable the left eye of the user to view the first view on the displaypanel at the second effect through the grating structure and enable theright eye of the user to view the second view on the display panel atthe second effect through the grating structure includes: enabling thefirst group of gratings spaced apart from each other to be transparentportions, enabling the second group of gratings spaced apart from eachother to be nontransparent portions, enabling the first pixel units todisplay the first view at the second effect and enabling the secondpixel units to display the second view at the second effect.

In a possible embodiment of the present disclosure, in the step ofapplying the first control signal, the first control signal includes afirst signal applied to the display panel and a second signal applied tothe grating structure, and in the step of applying the second controlsignal, the second control signal includes a third signal different fromthe first signal and applied to the display panel and a fourth signaldifferent from the second signal and applied to the grating structure.Transparent portions of the grating structure are located at differentpositions in accordance with the second signal and the fourth signal.

In a possible embodiment of the present disclosure, the step of applyingthe first control signal to enable the left eye of the user to view thefirst view on the display panel at the first effect through the gratingstructure, and enable the right eye of the user to view the second viewon the display panel at the first effect through the grating structureincludes: enabling a first group of gratings of the grating structure,which are spaced apart from each other, to be transparent portions,enabling a second group of gratings each arranged between the adjacentgratings in the first group to be nontransparent portions, enabling aplurality of first pixel units arranged on the display panel and spacedapart from each other to display the first view at the first effect, andenabling a plurality of second pixel units each arranged between theadjacent first pixel units on the display panel to display the secondview at the first effect. The step of applying the second control signalto enable the left eye of the user to view the first view on the displaypanel at the second effect through the grating structure and enable theright eye of the user to view the second view on the display panel atthe second effect through the grating structure includes: enabling thesecond group of gratings of the grating structure to be transparentportions, enabling the first group of gratings to be nontransparentportions, enabling the plurality of second pixel units spaced apart fromeach other on the display panel to display the first view at the secondeffect, and enabling the plurality of first pixel units spaced apartfrom each other on the display panel to display the second view at thesecond effect.

In a possible embodiment of the present disclosure, within the firsttime period for outputting one frame, the first control signal isapplied, to enable the left eye of the user to view on the display panelthe first view outputted by the plurality of first pixel units spacedapart from each other through the grating structure, thereby to view thefirst view at the first effect; and enable the right eye of the user toview on the display panel the second view outputted by the plurality ofsecond pixel units spaced apart from each other through the gratingstructure, thereby to view the second view at the first effect. Withinthe second time period for outputting one frame, the second controlsignal is applied, to enable the left eye of the user to view on thedisplay panel the first view outputted by the plurality of second pixelunits through the grating structure, thereby to view the first view atthe second effect; and enable the right eye of the user to view on thedisplay panel the second view outputted by the plurality of first pixelunits through the grating structure, thereby to view the second view atthe second effect.

In a possible embodiment of the present disclosure, the first timeperiod and the second time period form a display period for one frame.

In a possible embodiment of the present disclosure, the first effect isdifferent from the second effect. The first effect is used to representpositions of pixel units on the display panel corresponding to the firstview and the second view within the first time period, brightness valuesof at least parts of the pixel units on the display panel within thefirst time period, and/or contrast values of at least parts of the pixelunits on the display panel within the first time. The second effect isused to represent positions of pixel units on the display panelcorresponding to the first view and the second view within the secondtime period, brightness values of at least parts of the pixel units onthe display panel within the second time period, and/or contrast valuesof at least parts of the pixel units on the display panel within thesecond time period.

In another aspect, the present disclosure provides in some embodimentsan apparatus for controlling a 3D display device, the 3D display deviceincluding a display panel for displaying a 2D image and a gratingstructure cooperating with the display panel to provide a 3D displayeffect, the apparatus including: a first controller configured to,within a first time period for outputting one frame, apply a firstcontrol signal to enable a left eye of a user to view a first view onthe display panel at a first effect through the grating structure, andenable a right eye of the user to view a second view on the displaypanel at the first effect through the grating structure; and a secondcontroller configured to, within a second time period for outputting oneframe, apply a second control signal, to enable the left eye of the userto view the first view on the display panel at a second effect throughthe grating structure, and enable the right eye of the user to view thesecond view on the display panel at the second effect through thegrating structure.

In a possible embodiment of the present disclosure, the first controlsignal applied by the first controller includes a first signal appliedto the display panel and a second signal applied to the gratingstructure, and the second control signal applied by the secondcontroller includes a third signal different from the first signal andapplied to the display panel and a fourth signal identical to the secondsignal and applied to the grating structure.

In a possible embodiment of the present disclosure, the first controlsignal applied by the first controller includes a first signal appliedto the display panel and a second signal applied to the gratingstructure, and the second control signal applied by the secondcontroller includes a third signal different from the first signal andapplied to the display panel and a fourth signal different from thesecond signal and applied to the grating structure.

In a possible embodiment of the present disclosure, the first effect isdifferent from the second effect. The first effect is used to representpositions of pixel units on the display panel corresponding to the firstview and the second view within the first time period, brightness valuesof at least parts of the pixel units on the display panel within thefirst time period, and/or contrast values of at least parts of the pixelunits on the display panel within the first time. The second effect isused to represent positions of pixel units on the display panelcorresponding to the first view and the second view within the secondtime period, brightness values of at least parts of the pixel units onthe display panel within the second time period, and/or contrast valuesof at least parts of the pixel units on the display panel within thesecond time period.

In yet another aspect, the present disclosure provides in someembodiments a 3D display device including the above-mentioned apparatus,a display panel for displaying a 2D image and a grating structurecooperating with the display panel to provide a 3D display effect.

In a possible embodiment of the present disclosure, the gratingstructure is formed as an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) displayscreen and arranged at a rear side of the display panel. The OLEDdisplay screen includes a plurality of light-emitting units arrangedparallel to each other. Each light-emitting unit forms a transparentportion of the grating structure in the case of emitting light, andforms a nontransparent portion of the grating structure in the case ofnot emitting light.

According to the method and apparatus for controlling the 3D displaydevice, and the 3D display device in the embodiments of the presentdisclosure, within the display period for one frame, in the case ofswitching from the first time period into the second time period, eachof the left eye and the right eye of the user may view the view atdifferent effects. As compared with the related art where the view maybe viewed by each of the left eye and the right eye of the user at afixed effect within an identical display period for one frame, it isable for each of the left eye and the right eye to acquire more imageinformation, thereby to improve the PPI while achieving the 3D displayeffect.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order to illustrate the technical solutions of the present disclosureor the related art in a clearer manner, the drawings desired for thepresent disclosure or the related art will be described hereinafterbriefly. Obviously, the following drawings merely relate to someembodiments of the present disclosure, and based on these drawings, aperson skilled in the art may obtain other drawings without any creativeeffort.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a principle of applying a controlmethod to a 3D display device according to at least one embodiment ofthe present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing a state of the 3D display devicewithin a first time period according to at least one embodiment of thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 3 is another schematic view showing a state of the 3D displaydevice within a second time period according to at least one embodimentof the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing the 3D display device with thecontrol apparatus according to at least one embodiment of the presentdisclosure; and

FIG. 5 is another schematic view showing the 3D display device accordingto one embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

In order to make the objects, the technical solutions and the advantagesof the present disclosure more apparent, the present disclosure will bedescribed hereinafter in a clear and complete manner in conjunction withthe drawings and embodiments. Obviously, the following embodimentsmerely relate to a part of, rather than all of, the embodiments of thepresent disclosure, and based on these embodiments, a person skilled inthe art may, without any creative effort, obtain the other embodiments,which also fall within the scope of the present disclosure.

Unless otherwise defined, any technical or scientific term used hereinshall have the common meaning understood by a person of ordinary skills.Such words as “first” and “second” used in the specification and claimsare merely used to differentiate different components rather than torepresent any order, number or importance. Similarly, such words as“one” or “a” are merely used to represent the existence of at least onemember, rather than to limit the number thereof. Such words as “connect”or “connected to” may include electrical connection, direct or indirect,rather than to be limited to physical or mechanical connection. Suchwords as “on”, “under”, “left” and “right” are merely used to representrelative position relationship, and when an absolute position of theobject is changed, the relative position relationship will be changedtoo.

The present disclosure provides in some embodiments a method forcontrolling a 3D display device. The 3D display device includes adisplay panel for displaying a two-dimensional (2D) image and a gratingstructure cooperating with the display panel to provide a 3D displayeffect. The method includes steps of: within a first time period foroutputting one frame, applying a first control signal so as to enable aleft eye of a user to view a first view on the display panel at a firsteffect through the grating structure, and enable a right eye of the userto view a second view on the display panel at the first effect throughthe grating structure; and within a second time period for outputtingone frame, applying a second control signal, so as to enable the lefteye of the user to view the first view on the display panel at a secondeffect through the grating structure, and enable the right eye of theuser to view the second view on the display panel at the second effectthrough the grating structure.

According to the method in the embodiments of the present disclosure,within a display period for one frame, in the case of switching from thefirst time period into the second time period, each of the left eye andthe right eye of the user may view the view at different effects. Ascompared with the related art where the view may be viewed by each ofthe left eye and the right eye of the user at a fixed effect within anidentical display period for one frame, it is able for each of the lefteye and the right eye to acquire more image information, thereby toimprove the PPI while achieving a 3D display effect.

To be specific, within the display period for one frame, the first viewviewed by the left eye may remain unchanged within the first time periodand the second time period, and so does the second view viewed by theright eye. However, each view may be viewed at different display effectswithin the first time period and the second time period respectively.This difference in the display effects may be a change in positions ofpixel units corresponding to the view on the display panel. In otherwords, although the fixed views may be viewed by the left and right eyesrespectively within the display period for one frame, the pixel units onthe display panel corresponding to each of the first view viewed by theleft eye and the second view viewed by the right eye may change upon thefirst time period ends and the second time period starts, so the viewsmay be viewed by the left and right eyes respectively at differentdisplay effects within the first time period and the second time periodrespectively, so as to provide more image information.

In addition, within the first time period and the second time period,the difference in the display effects of the view viewed by each of theleft and right eyes may be a change in a brightness value or a contrastvalue. In other words, although the fixed view may be viewed by each ofthe left and right eyes within the display period for one frame, thebrightness value or contrast value of each of the first view viewed bythe left eye and the second view viewed by the right eye may change uponthe first time period ends and the second time period starts, or thebrightness value or contrast value of parts of the pixel units on thedisplay panel may change upon the first time period ends and the secondtime period starts so the view may be viewed by each of the left andright eyes at different display effects within the first time period andthe second time period respectively, so as to provide more imageinformation.

According to the method in the embodiments of the present disclosure, inthe case that the a 2D display panel outputs an image at a fixed refreshrate, it may display, through cooperating with the grating structure,two views within the display period for outputting one frame, so as to:within the first time period, enable the left eye of the user to merelyview the first view on the display panel at the first effect and enablethe right eye of the user to merely view the second view on the displaypanel at the first effect, thereby to combine the first view and thesecond view in the user's brain to achieve the 3D effect; and within thesecond time period, enable the left eye of the user to merely view thefirst view on the display panel at the second effect and enable theright eye of the user to merely view the second view on the displaypanel at the second effect, thereby to combine the first view and thesecond view in the user's brain to achieve the 3D effect. As comparedwith the related art, it is able for the left and right eyes to acquiremore image information within the display period for one frame throughthe method in the embodiments of the present disclosure, thereby toincrease the PPI while achieving the 3D display effect.

The 3D display device and the control method adopted thereby will bedescribed hereinafter in conjunction with the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a principle of applying a control method to a ParallaxBarrier 3D display device according to at least one embodiment of thepresent disclosure, and this 3D display device is also a commonfront-Parallax Barrier 3D display device. The 3D display device includesa display panel 10 and a grating structure 20. The grating structure 20is arranged opposite to the display panel 10 and in front of the displaypanel 10. In the case of displaying a 3D image, the grating structure 20may include transparent portions 21 and nontransparent portions 22arranged alternately. In the case that light beams from the displaypanel 10 are transmitted through the transparent portions 21, the lightbeams from parts of pixel units on the display panel 10 may betransmitted through the transparent portions 21 and reach the left eyeof the viewer, and light beams from the other parts of pixel units maybe transmitted through the transparent portions 21 and reach the righteye of the viewer. In the case that the views viewed by the left andright eyes are different from each other, they may be combined in theviewer's brain so as to provide the 3D display effect.

As shown in FIG. 1, usually, a plurality of first pixel units 11 spacedapart from each other on the display panel 10 may correspond to theviewer's left eye so as to display the first view within the displayperiod for outputting one frame, and a plurality of second pixel units12 each arranged between the adjacent first pixel units 11 maycorrespond to the viewer's right eye so as to display the second viewwithin the display period for outputting one frame.

In addition, in a possible embodiment of the present disclosure, thegrating structure 20 of the 3D display device may consist of slits atfixed positions, i.e., positions of the transparent portions 21 and thenontransparent portions 22 may be fixed and non-adjustable. In anotherpossible embodiment of the present disclosure, the grating structure 20may consist of slits at adjustable positions, i.e., the positions of thetransparent portions 21 and the nontransparent portions 22 may beadjustable in accordance with the practical need. The adjustable gratingstructure 20 may include a first electrode layer, a second electrodelayer arranged opposite to the first electrode layer, and a liquidcrystal layer arranged between the first electrode layer and the secondelectrode layer. The first electrode layer may consist of a plurality offirst electrodes arranged parallel to each other. A voltage may beapplied between the first electrode layer and the second electrodelayer, and different voltages may be applied to the first electrodesrespectively, so as to provide liquid crystals in the liquid crystallayer with different deflection states, thereby to allow or prohibit thetransmission of the light beams, and form the transparent portions andthe nontransparent portions arranged alternately.

The above-mentioned 3D display principle is known in the art, and aperson skilled in the art may understand the structure and the operatingprinciple of the 3D display device. In addition, this is not a researchemphasis of the present disclosure, and thus will not be furtherparticularly defined herein.

The method in the embodiments of the present disclosure may be appliedto the grating structure with the slits at fixed positions or to thegrating structure with the slits at adjustable positions.

To be specific, according to the method in the embodiments of thepresent disclosure, within the display period for outputting one frame,the brightness value or contrast value of the view viewed by each of theleft and right eyes, or the brightness value or contrast value of thecorresponding pixel units, may change upon the first time period endsand the second time period. In the case of a fixed refresh rate for thedisplay panel, it is able for each of the left and right eyes to acquiremore image information, thereby to increase the PPI while achieving the3D display effect.

To be specific, in order to implement the above-mentioned method, thecontrol signals for the 3D display device method will be describedhereinafter in more details.

As shown in FIG. 1, within the first time period for outputting oneframe, in the case of outputting the first control signal, the firstcontrol signal may include a first signal applied to the display panel10 and a second signal applied to the grating structure 20. Through thefirst signal, the first pixel units 11 on the display panel 10 mayoutput the first view, and the second pixel units 12 on the displaypanel 10 may output the second view. Through the second signal, thegrating structure 20 may be of a structure consisting of thenontransparent portions 22 and the transparent portions 21 arrangedalternately as shown in FIG. 1, the first view may be viewed by the lefteye of the viewer through the transparent portions 21 and the secondview may be viewed by the right eye of the viewer through thetransparent portions 21.

Within the second time period for outputting one frame, in the case ofoutputting the second control signal, the second control signal mayinclude a third signal different from the first signal and applied tothe display panel and a fourth signal identical to the second signal andapplied to the grating structure 20. Through the third signal, the firstpixel units 11 on the display panel 10 may also output the first view,and the second pixel units 12 may also output the second view. However,as compared with the first time period, the brightness value or contrastvalue of each of the first view and the second view may change. In otherwords, as compared with the first control signal applied within thefirst time period, the signal applied to the grating structure 20 mayremain unchanged, while the signal applied to the display panel maychange. In this way, it is able to change the brightness value orcontrast value of each of the first view and the second view whilekeeping the contents of the first view and the second view beingunchanged.

To be specific, the brightness value or contrast value of the imagedisplayed on the display panel may change by adjusting voltages appliedto two sides of a liquid crystal layer of the display panel 10.

In addition, in order to implement the method in the at least oneembodiment of the present disclosure, states of the grating structureand the display panel of the 3D display device will be describedhereinafter.

As shown in FIG. 1, the step of, within the first time period foroutputting one frame, applying the first control signal so as to enablethe left eye of the user to view the first view on the display panel 10at the first effect through the grating structure 20 and enable theright eye of the user to view the second view on the display panel 10 atthe first effect through the grating structure 20 includes: enabling afirst group of gratings of the grating structure 20, which are spacedapart from each other, to be the transparent portions 21, enabling asecond group of gratings each arranged between the adjacent gratings inthe first group to be the nontransparent portions 22, enabling theplurality of first pixel units 11 arranged on the display panel 10 andspaced apart from each other to display the first view at the firsteffect, and enabling the plurality of second pixel units 12 eacharranged between the adjacent first pixel units 11 on the display panel10 to display the second view at the first effect.

The step of, within the second time period for outputting one frame,applying the second output signal, so as to enable the left eye of theuser to view the first view on the display panel 10 at the second effectthrough the grating structure 20 and enable the right eye of the user toview the second view on the display panel 10 at the second effectthrough the grating structure 20 includes: enabling the first group ofgratings spaced apart from each other to be the transparent portions 21,enabling the second group of gratings spaced apart from each other to bethe nontransparent portions 22, i.e. positions of the transparentportions 21 and the nontransparent portions 22 of the grating structure20 being fixed; enabling the first pixel units 11 to display the firstview at the second effect and enabling the second pixel units 12 todisplay the second view at the second effect.

In other words, according to the method in the at least one embodimentof the present disclosure, within the first time period and the secondtime period, the grating structure of the 3D display device may remainunchanged. In addition, for the display panel, the positions of thepixel units for displaying the first view corresponding to the left eyeand the pixel units for displaying the second view corresponding to theright eye may remain unchanged, but each of the first view and thesecond view may be displayed at different effects.

According to the method in the embodiments of the present disclosure,for the display period for outputting one frame, within the second timeperiod following the first time period, it is able to adjust the controlsignal applied to the display panel, so as to enable each of the leftand right eyes to view the respective view at a display effect differentfrom the display effect within the first time period.

The method has been described hereinbefore by taking the 3D displaydevice with the grating structure being arranged in front of the displaypanel, i.e., the front-Parallax Barrier 3D display device, as anexample. It should be appreciated that, the above method may also beapplied to the rear-Parallax Barrier 3D display device, which will notbe particularly defined herein.

In addition, according to the method in the at least one embodiment ofthe present disclosure, it is also able to change the positions of thepixel units on the display panel corresponding to the views viewed bythe left and right eyes, respectively, upon the first time period endsand the second time period starts, so as to enable each of the left andright eyes to view the view at different effects within the first timeperiod and the second time period, thereby to acquire more imageinformation.

Based on the above principle, in the at least one embodiments of thepresent disclosure, the method may include steps of: within the firsttime period for outputting one frame, outputting the first controlsignal, so as to: enable the left eye of the user to view the first viewoutputted by the plurality of first pixel units on the display panelthrough the grating structure, thereby to display the first view at thefirst effect, and enable the right eye of the user to view the secondview outputted by the plurality of second pixel units on the displaypanel through the grating structure, thereby to display the second viewat the first effect; and within the second time period for outputtingone frame, outputting the second control signal, so as to: enable theleft eye of the user to view the first view outputted by the pluralityof second pixel units on the display panel through the gratingstructure, thereby to display the first view at the second effect, andenable the right eye of the user to view the second view outputted bythe plurality of first pixel units on the display panel through thegrating structure, thereby to display the second view at the secondeffect.

To be specific, in the at least one embodiments of the presentdisclosure, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 which are schematic views showingthe Parallax Barrier 3D display device, the 3D display device mayinclude the display panel 10 and the grating structure 20. In thisembodiment, the grating structure 20 may be arranged opposite to thedisplay panel 10 and in back of the display panel 10. The gratingstructure 20 may be an OLED display screen and function as a backlightunit for the display panel 10. The OLED display screen may include aplurality of light-emitting units arranged parallel to each other. Inthe case of emitting light, the light-emitting units may form thetransparent portions of the grating structure corresponding to parts ofthe pixel units on the display panel 10, so as to enable each of theleft and right eyes to view the corresponding view through thetransparent portions.

The structure of the 3D display device with the OLED display screen asthe backlight unit is known in the art, and thus will not be furtherparticularly defined herein.

The control signals for the 3D display device adopting theabove-mentioned method will be described hereinafter in more details.

As shown in FIG. 2, in the case of applying the first control signalwithin the first time period for outputting one frame, the first controlsignal may include a first signal applied to the display panel 10 and asecond signal applied to the grating structure 20. Through the firstsignal, the first pixel units 11 on the display panel 10 may output thefirst view, and the second pixel units 12 on the display panel 10 mayoutput the second view. Through the second signal, the grating structure20 may be of a structure consisting of the nontransparent portions 22and the transparent portions 21 arranged alternately as shown in FIG. 2in such a manner that the left eye of the viewer may view the first viewthrough the transparent portions 21 and the right eye of the viewer mayview the second view through the transparent portions 21. In otherwords, the first pixel units 11 on the display panel 10 may correspondto the left eye, and the second pixel units 12 on the display panel 10may correspond to the right eye.

In the case of applying the second control signal within the second timeperiod for outputting one frame, the second control signal may include athird signal different from the first signal and applied to the displaypanel 10 and a fourth signal different from the second signal andapplied to the grating structure 20. Through the third signal, thesecond pixel units 12 on the display panel 10 may output the secondview, and the first pixel units 11 may output the first view. Throughthe fourth signal, as compared with the second signal, the transparentportions and the nontransparent portions of the grating structure 20 maybe replaced with each other. In this way, as shown in FIG. 3, the secondpixel units 12 on the display panel 10 may correspond to the left eye,and the first pixel units 11 may correspond to the right eye.

In addition, the states of the grating structure 20 and the displaypanel 10 of the 3D display device will be described hereinafter.

As shown in FIG. 2, the step of applying the first control signal so asto enable the left eye of the user to view the first view on the displaypanel 10 at the first effect through the grating structure 20 and enablethe right eye of the user to view the second view on the display panel10 at the first effect through the grating structure 20 includes:enabling a first group of gratings 210 of the grating structure 20,which are spaced apart from each other, to be the transparent portions21, enabling a second group of gratings 220 each arranged between theadjacent gratings 210 in the first group to be the nontransparentportions 22, enabling the plurality of first pixel units 11 arranged onthe display panel 10 and spaced apart from each other to display thefirst view, and enabling the plurality of second pixel units 12 eacharranged between the adjacent first pixel units 11 on the display panel10 to display the second view. In this way, as shown in FIG. 2, the lefteye of the user may correspond to the first pixel units 11 and may viewthe first view outputted by the first pixel units 11, and the right eyeof the user may correspond to the second pixel units 12 and may view thesecond view outputted by the second pixel units 12.

The step of applying the second control signal so as to enable the lefteye of the user to view the first view on the display panel 10 at thesecond effect through the grating structure 20 and enable the right eyeof the user to view the second view on the display panel 10 at thesecond effect through the grating structure 20 includes: enabling thefirst group of gratings 210 spaced apart from each other to be thenontransparent portions 22, enabling the second group of gratings 220spaced from each other to be the transparent portions 21, enabling theplurality of second pixel units 12 spaced apart from each other on thedisplay panel 10 to display the first view, and enabling the pluralityof first pixel units 11 spaced apart from each other on the displaypanel 10 to display the second view. In this way, as shown in FIG. 3,the left eye of the user may correspond to the second pixel units 12 butstill may view the first view, and the right eye of the user maycorrespond to the first pixel units 11 but still may view the secondview. As compared with the first time period, the view viewed by each ofthe left and right eyes may remain unchanged, but the view is displayedby pixel units adjacent to the pixel units for displaying the viewwithin the first time period, so it is able to provide a differentdisplay effect.

Through the above-mentioned method, as compared with the first controlsignal applied within the first time period, the signals applied to thedisplay panel 10 and the grating structure 20 may change within thesecond time period, so as to enable the display panel 10 to match thegrating structure 20, and enable the positions of the first view and thesecond view viewed by the left and right eyes to change relative to thedisplay panel while keeping the contents of the first and second viewsbeing unchanged, thereby to provide different display effects. Hence, ascompared with the related art where the view may be viewed by each ofthe left eye and the right eye of the user at a fixed effect within anidentical display period for one frame, it is able for each of the lefteye and the right eye to acquire more image information, thereby toimprove the PPI while achieving the 3D display effect.

It should be appreciated that, the above-mentioned method may also beapplied to, apart from a rear-Parallax Barrier 3D display device, afront-Parallax Barrier 3D display device, which will not be particularlydefined herein.

In the at least two embodiments of the present disclosure, the firsttime period and the second time period may form a display period for oneframe, and further, the first time period may be equal to the secondtime period. For example, in the case that the display panel outputs animage at a refresh rate of 120 Hz, within the first half of one refreshperiod, the left eye may view the first view at the first effect and theright eye may view the second view at the first effect, so as to providethe 3D effect. Within the second half of one refresh period, the lefteye may view the first view at the second effect and the right eye mayview the second view at the second effect, so as to provide the 3Deffect.

As mentioned above, in the at least two embodiments of the presentdisclosure, the display period for one frame may be divided into twotime periods, and the method for controlling the 3D display device hasbeen described by taking the different display effects of the same viewviewed by the each of the left and right eyes within the two timeperiods as an example. It should be appreciated that, in the case thatthe display period for one frame is divided into more than two timeperiods, it is still able for the user to acquire more image informationwithin the time period for one frame, thereby to increase the PPI whileachieving the 3D display effect.

The present disclosure further provides in some embodiments an apparatusfor controlling a 3D display device, as shown in FIG. 4. The 3D displaydevice includes a display panel 10 for displaying a 2D image and agrating structure 20 cooperating with the display panel 10 to provide a3D display effect. The controlling apparatus includes: a firstcontroller 30 configured to, within a first time period for outputtingone frame, apply a first control signal so as to enable a left eye of auser to view a first view on the display panel 10 at a first effectthrough the grating structure 20, and enable a right eye of the user toview a second view on the display panel 10 at the first effect throughthe grating structure 20; and a second controller 40 configured to,within a second time period for outputting one frame, apply a secondcontrol signal, so as to enable the left eye of the user to view thefirst view on the display panel 10 at a second effect through thegrating structure 20, and enable the right eye of the user to view thesecond view on the display panel 10 at the second effect through thegrating structure 20.

In the at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, the firstcontrol signal applied by the first controller 30 includes a firstsignal applied to the display panel 10 and a second signal applied tothe grating structure 20, and the second control signal applied by thesecond controller 40 includes a third signal different from the firstsignal and applied to the display panel 10 and a fourth signal identicalto the second signal and applied to the grating structure 20.

To be specific, the second control signal is applied, such that ascompared with the first control signal applied within the first timeperiod, the signal applied to the grating structure 20 may remainunchanged and the signal applied to the display panel 10 may changewithin the second time period. In this way, the contents of the firstview and the second view are kept unchanged, while it is able to changethe display effects of the first view and the second view, e.g., changea brightness value or contrast value.

In the at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, the firstcontrol signal applied by the first controller 30 includes a firstsignal applied to the display panel 10 and a second signal applied tothe grating structure 20, and the second control signal applied by thesecond controller 40 includes a third signal different from the firstsignal and applied to the display panel 10 and a fourth signal differentfrom the second signal and applied to the grating structure 20.

In the at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, the secondcontrol signal is applied, such that as compared with the first controlsignal applied within the first time period, the signals applied to thegrating structure 20 and the display panel 10 may change, so as to, e.g.enable the 3D display device to be in the two states as shown in FIGS. 2and 3. At this time, the transparent portions and the nontransparentportions of the grating structure 20 may be replaced with each other, sothat the pixel units on the display panel 10 corresponding to the lefteye and the pixel units on the display panel 10 corresponding to theright eye may be replaced with each other. In this way, although theview viewed by each of the left and right eyes may remain unchanged, thecorresponding pixel units on the display panel as well as the displayeffect may be changed, so it is able for the user to acquire more imageinformation.

The present disclosure further provides in some embodiments a 3D displaydevice, including the above-mentioned controlling apparatus, a displaypanel for displaying a 2D image, and a grating structure cooperatingwith the display panel to provide a 3D display effect.

As shown in FIG. 5, which shows the 3D display device, the gratingstructure 20 is formed as an OLED display screen and arranged at a rearside of the display panel 10. The OLED display screen includes aplurality of light-emitting units arranged parallel to each other. Thelight-emitting units may form the transparent portions of the gratingstructure in the case of emitting light, and form the nontransparentportions of the grating structure in the case of not emitting light. TheOLED display screen is of a structure with a common OLED display panelknown in the art, and thus will not be particularly defined herein.

In the above-mentioned 3D display device, the grating structure 20 isarranged in back of the display panel, and the OLED display screenfunctions as a backlight unit of the display panel 10. Through the lightemitted by the plurality of light-emitting units spaced apart from eachother, the left and right eyes may view different views, which may thenbe combined in the user's brain to form a 3D image.

In the above 3D display device, as shown in FIG. 5, the display panel 10includes a color filter substrate 110, an array substrate 120, a liquidcrystal layer 130 arranged between the color filter substrate 110 andthe array substrate 120, a first polarizer 140 arranged above the colorfilter substrate 110, and a second polarizer arranged below the arraysubstrate 120. In a possible embodiment of the present disclosure, thearray substrate 120 may be formed as a cover plate for packaging thegrating structure 20 (i.e., the OLED display screen). The secondpolarizer arranged on the array substrate 120 may include a plurality ofmetal wire-grid polarizers 150 for replacing a conventional polarizer.Due to the resistance to high temperature of the metal wire-gridpolarizers 150, the array substrate 120 may be packaged with the OLEDdisplay screen through a sealant 160 after the array substrate 120 ismanufactured, so as to form the 3D display device.

FIG. 5 merely shows an embodiment of the 3D display device including theabove-mentioned controlling apparatus. It should be appreciated that,the 3D display device may be of one of other various structures, whichwill not be particularly defined herein.

According to the method and apparatus for controlling the 3D displaydevice, and the 3D display device in the embodiments of the presentdisclosure, within the display period for one frame, in the case ofswitching from the first time period into the second time period, eachof the left eye and the right eye of the user may view the view atdifferent effects. As compared with the related art, it is able for eachof the left eye and the right eye to acquire more image information,thereby to improve the PPI while achieving the 3D display effect.

The above are merely the optional embodiments of the present disclosure.Obviously, a person skilled in the art may make further modificationsand improvements without departing from the spirit of the presentdisclosure, and these modifications and improvements shall also fallwithin the scope of the present disclosure.

1. A method for controlling a three-dimensional (3D) display device, the3D display device comprising a display panel for displaying atwo-dimensional (2D) image and a grating structure cooperating with thedisplay panel to provide a 3D display effect, the method comprising:within a first time period for outputting one frame, applying a firstcontrol signal, to enable a left eye of a user to view a first view onthe display panel at a first effect through the grating structure, andenable a right eye of the user to view a second view on the displaypanel at the first effect through the grating structure; and within asecond time period for outputting the one frame, applying a secondcontrol signal, to enable the left eye of the user to view the firstview on the display panel at a second effect through the gratingstructure, and enable the right eye of the user to view the second viewon the display panel at the second effect through the grating structure.2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the applied first controlsignal comprises a first signal applied to the display panel and asecond signal applied to the grating structure; and the applied secondcontrol signal comprises a third signal different from the first signaland applied to the display panel, and a fourth signal identical to thesecond signal and applied to the grating structure.
 3. The methodaccording to claim 1, wherein applying the first control signal toenable the left eye of the user to view the first view on the displaypanel at the first effect through the grating structure and enable theright eye of the user to view the second view on the display panel atthe first effect through the grating structure comprises: enabling afirst group of gratings of the grating structure, which are spaced apartfrom each other, to be transparent portions, enabling a second group ofgratings each arranged between the adjacent gratings in the first groupto be nontransparent portions, enabling a plurality of first pixel unitsarranged on the display panel and spaced apart from each other todisplay the first view at the first effect, and enabling a plurality ofsecond pixel units each arranged between the adjacent first pixel unitson the display panel to display the second view at the first effect; andapplying a second output signal to enable the left eye of the user toview the first view on the display panel at the second effect throughthe grating structure and enable the right eye of the user to view thesecond view on the display panel at the second effect through thegrating structure comprises: enabling the first group of gratings spacedapart from each other to be transparent portions, enabling the secondgroup of gratings spaced apart from each other to be nontransparentportions, enabling the first pixel units to display the first view atthe second effect, and enabling the second pixel units to display thesecond view at the second effect.
 4. The method according to claim 1,wherein the applied first control signal comprises a first signalapplied to the display panel and a second signal applied to the gratingstructure; the applied second control signal comprises a third signaldifferent from the first signal and applied to the display panel, and afourth signal different from the second signal and applied to thegrating structure; and transparent portions of the grating structure arelocated at different positions in accordance with the second signal andthe fourth signal.
 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein applyingthe first control signal to enable the left eye of the user to view thefirst view on the display panel at the first effect through the gratingstructure and enable the right eye of the user to view the second viewon the display panel at the first effect through the grating structurecomprises: enabling a first group of gratings of the grating structure,which are spaced apart from each other, to be transparent portions,enabling a second group of gratings each arranged between the adjacentgratings in the first group to be nontransparent portions, enabling aplurality of first pixel units arranged on the display panel and spacedapart from each other to display the first view at the first effect, andenabling a plurality of second pixel units each arranged between theadjacent first pixel units on the display panel to display the secondview at the first effect; and applying the second control signal toenable the left eye of the user to view the first view on the displaypanel at the second effect through the grating structure and enable theright eye of the user to view the second view on the display panel atthe second effect through the grating structure comprises: enabling thesecond group of gratings of the grating structure to be transparentportions, enabling the first group of gratings to be nontransparentportions, enabling the plurality of second pixel units spaced apart fromeach other on the display panel to display the first view at the secondeffect, and enabling the plurality of first pixel units spaced apartfrom each other on the display panel to display the second view at thesecond effect.
 6. The method according to claim 1, wherein within thefirst time period for outputting the one frame, the first control signalis applied, to enable the left eye of the user to view on the displaypanel the first view outputted by a plurality of first pixel unitsspaced apart from each other through the grating structure, to enablethe left eye of the user to view the first view at the first effect; andenable the right eye of the user to view on the display panel the secondview outputted by a plurality of second pixel units spaced apart fromeach other through the grating structure, to enable the right eye of theuser to view the second view at the first effect, and within the secondtime period for outputting the one frame, the second control signal isapplied, to enable the left eye of the user to view on the display panelthe first view outputted by the plurality of second pixel units throughthe grating structure, to enable the left eye of the user to view thefirst view at the second effect; and enable the right eye of the user toview on the display panel the second view outputted by the plurality offirst pixel units through the grating structure, to enable the right eyeof the user to view the second view at the second effect.
 7. The methodaccording to claim 1, wherein the first time period and the second timeperiod form a display period for one frame.
 8. The method according toclaim 1, wherein the first effect is different from the second effect;the first effect is used to represent positions of pixel units on thedisplay panel corresponding to the first view and the second view withinthe first time period, brightness values of at least parts of the pixelunits on the display panel within the first time period, and/or contrastvalues of at least parts of the pixel units on the display panel withinthe first time; and the second effect is used to represent positions ofpixel units on the display panel corresponding to the first view and thesecond view within the second time period, brightness values of at leastparts of the pixel units on the display panel within the second timeperiod, and/or contrast values of at least parts of the pixel units onthe display panel within the second time period.
 9. An apparatus forcontrolling a three-dimensional (3D) display device, the 3D displaydevice comprising a display panel for displaying a two-dimensional (2D)image and a grating structure cooperating with the display panel toprovide a 3D display effect, the apparatus comprising: a firstcontroller configured to, within a first time period for outputting oneframe, apply a first control signal to enable a left eye of a user toview a first view on the display panel at a first effect through thegrating structure, and enable a right eye of the user to view a secondview on the display panel at the first effect through the gratingstructure; and a second controller configured to, within a second timeperiod for outputting one frame, apply a second control signal to enablethe left eye of the user to view the first view on the display panel ata second effect through the grating structure, and enable the right eyeof the user to view the second view on the display panel at the secondeffect through the grating structure.
 10. The apparatus according toclaim 9, wherein the first control signal applied by the firstcontroller comprises a first signal applied to the display panel and asecond signal applied to the grating structure; and the second controlsignal applied by the second controller comprises a third signaldifferent from the first signal and applied to the display panel, and afourth signal identical to the second signal and applied to the gratingstructure.
 11. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the firstcontrol signal applied by the first controller comprises a first signalapplied to the display panel and a second signal applied to the gratingstructure; and the second control signal applied by the secondcontroller comprises a third signal different from the first signal andapplied to the display panel, and a fourth signal different from thesecond signal and applied to the grating structure.
 12. The apparatusaccording to claim 9, wherein the first effect is different from thesecond effect; the first effect is used to represent positions of pixelunits on the display panel corresponding to the first view and thesecond view within the first time period, brightness values of at leastparts of the pixel units on the display panel within the first timeperiod, and/or contrast values of at least parts of the pixel units onthe display panel within the first time; and the second effect is usedto represent positions of pixel units on the display panel correspondingto the first view and the second view within the second time period,brightness values of at least parts of the pixel units on the displaypanel within the second time period, and/or contrast values of at leastparts of the pixel units on the display panel within the second timeperiod.
 13. A three-dimensional (3D) display device, comprising theapparatus according to claim 9, the display panel for displaying the 2Dimage, and the grating structure cooperating with the display panel toprovide the 3D display effect.
 14. The 3D display device according toclaim 13, wherein the grating structure is formed as an organiclight-emitting diode (OLED) display screen and arranged at a rear sideof the display panel; the OLED display screen comprises a plurality oflight-emitting units arranged parallel to each other; and eachlight-emitting unit forms the transparent portion of the gratingstructure in the case that the light emitting unit emits light, andforms the nontransparent portion of the grating structure in the casethat the light emitting unit does not emit light.
 15. The 3D displaydevice according to claim 13, wherein the first control signal appliedby the first controller comprises a first signal applied to the displaypanel and a second signal applied to the grating structure; and thesecond control signal applied by the second controller comprises a thirdsignal different from the first signal and applied to the display panel,and a fourth signal identical to the second signal and applied to thegrating structure.
 16. The 3D display device according to claim 13,wherein the first control signal applied by the first controllercomprises a first signal applied to the display panel and a secondsignal applied to the grating structure; and the second control signalapplied by the second controller comprises a third signal different fromthe first signal and applied to the display panel, and a fourth signaldifferent from the second signal and applied to the grating structure.17. The 3D display device according to claim 13, wherein the firsteffect is different from the second effect; the first effect is used torepresent positions of pixel units on the display panel corresponding tothe first view and the second view within the first time period,brightness values of at least parts of the pixel units on the displaypanel within the first time period, and/or contrast values of at leastparts of the pixel units on the display panel within the first time; andthe second effect is used to represent positions of pixel units on thedisplay panel corresponding to the first view and the second view withinthe second time period, brightness values of at least parts of the pixelunits on the display panel within the second time period, and/orcontrast values of at least parts of the pixel units on the displaypanel within the second time period.
 18. The 3D display device accordingto claim 15, wherein the grating structure is formed as an OLED displayscreen and arranged at a rear side of the display panel; the OLEDdisplay screen comprises a plurality of light-emitting units arrangedparallel to each other; and each light-emitting unit forms thetransparent portion of the grating structure in the case that the lightemitting unit emits light, and forms the nontransparent portion of thegrating structure in the case that the light emitting unit does not emitlight.
 19. The 3D display device according to claim 16, wherein thegrating structure is formed as an OLED display screen and arranged at arear side of the display panel; the OLED display screen comprises aplurality of light-emitting units arranged parallel to each other; andeach light-emitting unit forms the transparent portion of the gratingstructure in the case that the light emitting unit emits light, andforms the nontransparent portion of the grating structure in the casethat the light emitting unit does not emit light.
 20. The 3D displaydevice according to claim 17, wherein the grating structure is formed asan OLED display screen and arranged at a rear side of the display panel;the OLED display screen comprises a plurality of light-emitting unitsarranged parallel to each other; and each light-emitting unit forms thetransparent portion of the grating structure in the case that the lightemitting unit emits light, and forms the nontransparent portion of thegrating structure in the case that the light emitting unit does not emitlight.